A graduate of Northwestern, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and played the 1960 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He moved to the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and playedwith them from 1961-'64, earning AFL All-Star honors in each of his first three seasons The defensive cornerback, earned the nickname, "The Hammer" and played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1965-'67 and appearing in Super Bowl I. He played in the Montreal Aloueets of C.F.L. the following year and then retired He was
later a member of the Monday Night Football crew in 1974. He went on to a lengthy
and successful acting career.